Zelenskyy Urges Unity at Cities Summit

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for continued international unity and support for Ukraine during the 4th International Summit of Cities and Regions, titled “Partnership. Resilience. Readiness.” In an address on May 26, he said cooperation among cities, communities and regional authorities had become a key element of Ukraine’s wartime partnerships.

Zelenskyy said broad public support across Europe and other parts of the world had helped underpin decisions by governments, parliaments and businesses to assist Ukraine. Representatives from numerous European countries, as well as the United States and Moldova, attended the summit. Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya also participated.

The Ukrainian president said Russia continued to threaten Ukraine and other European countries while rejecting what he described as genuine diplomacy. He urged partners to make air defense for Ukraine their top priority and to strengthen cooperation between communities, including efforts to support Ukrainians living abroad.

Zelenskyy also highlighted preparations for the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Gdańsk, Poland, scheduled for June, saying it should produce concrete results for reconstruction and encourage European business engagement with Ukraine. He additionally endorsed the Carpathian Integration Initiative and plans for an international forum focused on cooperation across the Carpathian region.